koberds



`tened cross piece of metal a, extending symwithout essential detriment to the bit. IVhen UNITED STATES PATENT orricn.

J. M. ROBERDS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BRIDLE-BIT.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all 'whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, J. M. Romaans, of the city of INfashington, in the District of C0- lumbia, have invented a new and Improved Curb-Bit for Bridles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a bit which will prove more effectual than any which has heretofore been in use and at the same time be entirely harmless in its operation. By means of this contrivance the most refractory horse can be readily controlled and that too without doing him any injury.

T o enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to. describe its construction and operation. EX- cept as hereinafter described the bit is made like those ordinarily in use.

The figure shows a perspective View of the entire bit and appendages with the curb attached. In the Amiddle of the bit is a flatmetrically on each side of the shank of the bit m, and standing in the same plane as the side pieces o, Z). All the edges of this cross piece a, should be rounded and smoothed so as not to wound the mouth of the horse. I prefer to construct it about one inch in width and about two and one half inches in its eX- treme length, but this size can be varied the curb rein is drawn, the upper end of this cross piece a, is made to press upward upon 31,557, dated February ze, 1861.

the roof of the mouth of the horse and the other end downward upon his tongue.

Instead of the chain of which the curb is usually made to consist I use a piece of corrugated sheet metal c, attached to the bit by hooks and links cl, d. The corrugations in this piece are made with angles upon the part which comes in Contact with the j aw of the horse which should not be so acute as to be in danger of cutting through the skin of the animal. This corrugated piece of sheet metal will be more easily and cheaply made than the chain for which it is to be substituted and will at the same time be more effectual and be less liable to injure the jaw of the horse.

I am aware that in the English patent of John Lurman of August 28th, 1830, the bar of the bit is divided in the center and the two parts are bent in opposite directions furnishing an equivalent for the flattened cross piece of metal used by me. I therefore do not claim that contrivance in and of itself; but

Vhat I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A bridle constructed with such a flattened cross piece in the bit, in combination with the corrugated curb contrived and operating as above shown.

2. The use of a corrugated curb for a bit constructed and arranged substantially as above set forth.

J. M'. nonsens.

lVitnesses:

GOODWIN Y. AT LEE, EDM. F. BROWN. 

